EDINBURGH v LA ROCHELLE
BT Murrayfield, tonight, 8pm
Coach: Interim head Duncan Hodge will be in charge until the end of the season, when former Leicester coach Richard Cockerill takes over.
How they got there: Top of a difficult group that included Harlequins, Stade Francais and Timisoara Saracens, Edinburgh won five games out of six to secure a home tie in the last eight.
Form guide: Poor. They have not won in the PRO12 this season, and more than two months have passed since their last victory of any sort in the pool game at Myreside against Timisoara.
Key player: Hamish Watson’s dynamism will be vital at the breakdown if his team are to secure a decent amount of ball against a formidable French pack.
La Rochelle:
Coach: Patrice Collazo, the former Gloucester prop who won one French cap, has been in charge since 2011.
How they got there: Runners-up to Gloucester in a pool that also included Treviso and Bayonne, their only defeat came against the English club, who finished just a point ahead of them.
Form guide: Formidable. They are 10 points clear in the Top 14 thanks to a run of eight consecutive wins and now have a strong chance of clinching their first domestic title.
Key player: Australian stand-off Zack Holmes will try to inject some sort of coherence into the creative chaos that La Rochelle seem to enjoy.
BATH v BRIVE
Recreation Ground, tomorrow, 12.45pm
Bath:
Head Coach: Tabai Matson took on the role last year following three years as assistant coach with the Crusaders in New Zealand.
How they got there: Topped their pool a point ahead of Cardiff. A disappointing loss to the Welsh team was the only blemish in an impressive group campaign that saw them sweep aside both Bristol and Pau.
Form guide: They have suffered three consecutive losses, including a 53-10 thrashing at the hands of Saracens last weekend. Currently fifth in the Aviva Premiership.
Key player: Jonathan Joseph. The England centre scored a hat-trick against Scotland in the Six Nations, and his speed and agility will be crucial in breaking down a solid Brive defence.
Brive:
Head coach: Nicolas Godignon has held the post since 2012, having previously been the club’s forwards coach.
How they got there: Comfortably top of their pool, losing one game to the Dragons but defeating both Worcester and Enisei-STM home and away.
Form guide: Sitting ninth in the Top 14, they have endured a tough campaign, but have picked up recently, winning three of their last four matches.
Key player: Gaetan Germain has scored over 250 points already this season and will punish any disciplinary weaknesses.
GLOUCESTER v CARDIFF BLUES
Kingsholm, tomorrow, 8.05pm
Gloucester:
Head Coach: Laurie Fisher joined in 2014 after a spell as director of rugby with the Brumbies in Australia.
How they got there: Finishing top of pool 1, they lost only once, to La Rochelle, and beat Treviso and Bayonne twice each to secure a home quarter-final.
Form guide: They have endured a mixed season and are currently eighth in the Aviva Premiership. Have won two of their last four games.
Key player: England centre Billy Twelvetrees will use his relentless physicality to take the game to Cardiff.
Cardiff Blues:
Head coach: Danny Wilson has been in the post for two years, having been Bristol’s forwards coach before that.
How they got here: Runners-up to Bath by a single point in their pool, easily finishing ahead of Bristol and Pau.
Form guide: Have endured a frustrating season and are eighth in the Guinness Pro12 table. Lost their last two matches to Munster and Leinster.
Key player: Sam Warburton’s prolific work-load and never-say-die mentality could be the Blues’ best asset.
OSPREYS v STADE FRANCAIS
Principality Stadium, Sunday, 5.45pm
Ospreys:
Head Coach: Steve Tandy, a former Ospreys player, has been in charge since 2012.
How they got there: The Welsh side claimed a clean sweep of victories in their pool, finishing comfortably in front of Lyon, Newcastle Falcons and Grenoble. Their stand-out performance came against Grenoble in December where they scored 73 points.
Form guide: third in the PRO12, six points behind leaders Leinster, they have won four of their last six games but had an embarrassing 13-5 loss to Treviso last weekend.
Key player: Dan Lydiate has an important part to play in the struggle for domination in the back row, and at his best could swing the game in the Ospreys’ favour.
Stade Francais:
Head coach: Gonzalo Quesada, the former Argentina international, has been in the hot seat since 2013.
How they got there: Runners-up in their pool to Edinburgh, they dropped points to the Scottish team and to Harlequins.
Form guide: They have struggled this season domestically, with internal strife affecting performances on the pitch, and have won just two of their last five outings in the league.
Key player: Sergio Parisse is consistently excellent whether for Italy or his club, and his versatile skills as a forward with the brain of a back will prove a handful for the Ospreys.
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